Baseball Batting-Practice Apparatus and Related Methods of Use

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a portable apparatus for batting practice which aids in the development and/or improvement of a batter&#39;s ability to strike a baseball/softball with a baseball/softball bat. The apparatus consists of ball-targets, affixed to a hub, that rotate about a horizontal axle. Suitably, the hub is defined by a strap and clamp assembly. 
     The apparatus may be affixed to any vertical assembly, but will typically be affixed to a standard vertical assembly, commonly known as a batting tee. Once so affixed, the apparatus may be adjusted up or down along with the tee, to allow for batters of varying heights to use the apparatus. The batter strikes the target, with the selected implement, in this case a baseball/softball bat, causing the target to rotate around the horizontal axle, eventually returning a target once again to the upright and proper position, allowing for further training using said apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Prov. App. Ser. No. 61/561,183 (filed Nov. 17, 2011).

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This specification discloses subject matter that is generally related to athletic training apparatus. Specifically, the disclosed subject matter relates to apparatus for learning and/or improving the skill of striking a baseball/softball with a bat. Even more particularly, the described subject matter relates to a batting practice apparatus that enables repeated striking of a target ball via automatically resetting the target ball to a strike position.

2. Background of the Invention

Each year, millions of people participate in baseball, softball, or tee ball. These sports essentially involve hitting a thrown or teed-up ball with a bat. Hitting a thrown or teed-up ball with a bat, hereinafter “batting,” requires hand-eye coordination and proper bat-swinging techniques. As a result, baseball or softball players are desirous of improving either their batting hand-eye-coordination or their batting techniques. Typically, such improvements are accomplished through batting practice, which typically involves repetitive striking of a ball with a bat while simultaneously using proper swinging technique.

Minimally, batting practice requires a ball-target and a bat. However, striking a ball-target with a bat, without more, will separate the ball-target from the batter so that retrieval of the ball-target becomes necessary. With a single ball-target, repetitive batting is frequently interrupted because the ball target must necessarily be retrieved between each repetition. By using multiple ball-targets during batting practice, repetition can be uninterrupted but subsequent retrieval of said ball-targets becomes time-consuming and tedious. By enlisting multiple participants in batting practice, repetitions can be less interrupted, but scheduling and availability of the participants becomes a problematic consideration. Therefore, a need exists for methods and/or instruments that enable solo-batting practice with uninterrupted repetitions.

In view of this need, various batting practice apparatus have been developed. Some of these apparatus involve variously tethering a ball-target to an upright structure. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.: 2,976,040; 3,601,398; 4,050,694; 4,793,612; 5,000,450; 5,460,364; 5,454,561; 5,494,278; 5,803,836; 6,290,618; or D366,679). These apparatus are not entirely suitable for batting practice even through the need to retrieve the ball target is eliminated via tethering of the ball to the structure. One unsuitable aspect of said apparatus is that, after striking the tethered ball-target with a bat, the initial position of the ball-target, which has be customized to the batter, is offset whereby the position must be reset in between batting repetitions. This aspect is thought to be unsuitable because either: (1) the apparatus must be complicatedly and expensively configured with an automatic reset feature; (2) a batting practice participant must assist the batter by resetting the apparatus whereby practice scheduling becomes problematic; or (3) the batter must personally reset the apparatus so that repetitions are interrupted. Other drawbacks of the said known apparatus are that the same are not well suited to users of varying skill levels or are difficult to adjust to different sized batters. Finally, many of the known apparatus are not portable so that batting practice cannot be accomplished impromptu. Therefore, a need still exists for portable and customizable apparatus and related methods for solo batting practice with essentially uninterrupted batting repetitions.

Other activities, such as golf, have produced various types of ball-striking practice apparatus, although the sports and training methodologies are not analogous because of the significant differences in how a baseball is struck. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,421,376 and 4,717,153 teach a golf-swing practice apparatus wherein ball-targets are equilaterally and rotably mounted to a below ground horizontal axis so that one of the ball-targets is presented at ground level. In operation, a ball-target may be struck with a golf club so that the apparatus may rotate in-place around the below ground axis. Suitably, the apparatus resets via gravity (i.e., the weight of two-ball targets will cause the apparatus to rotatably reset wherein one of the balls is presented at ground level for subsequent striking). While such apparatus are suitable for their intended sport, swing techniques for the various sports are exceedingly specific whereby the same ball-striking practice apparatus cannot be used to develop a swing that is universal to all ball-striking sports. For example, a golf swing practicing apparatus, which involves striking an on-ground or near-ground ball-target, will necessarily be inept for baseball batting practice, which involves hitting an above ground ball target. This means that a need still exists for methods and/or apparatus that enable customizable solo batting practice with essentially uninterrupted batting repetitions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present specification to describe batting practice apparatus and related methods of use that satisfy the above mentioned needs. More specifically, an object of this disclosure is to describe portable and customizable apparatus that enable solo batting practice with essentially uninterrupted batting repetitions. In one embodiment, the described apparatus comprises: a plurality of ball-targets that are configured in an equilateral arrangement in a single plane via spoked connection to a hub; a mount that is adjustably securable to an upright structure; and, an axle that is connected at one end to the hub and at another end to the mount so that the plurality of ball-targets may rotate relative to the mount.

In other embodiments, each of the said plurality of ball-targets approximates the size of a standard baseball. The materials of said plurality of ball-targets may be identical to that of a standard baseball/softball or that of various other balls including, but not limited to: rubber or plastic. The hub and spokes upon which the plurality of ball-targets is affixed may be comprised of a multitude of materials, not limited to but including: wood, steel, aluminum, plastic, rubber, and any other composite of materials. The number of targets affixed to the hub assembly may vary and embodiments may be constructed with one, two, three, four or more ball-targets. This said, a preferable embodiment features: three-ball targets constructed of plastic (e.g., the ball-targets may be “whiffle balls”); a plastic hub with three spokes; a metal axle; and a mount defined by a strap and clamp assembly. The materials of the strap assembly may include rubber, plastic, canvas, as well as any other fabric, both natural and/or man-made. The clamp assembly may be comprised of a plurality of designs and materials, to include, but not limited to, a pull down clamp made of metal, aluminum or plastic.

Operably, the apparatus is configured so that said plurality of ball-targets may rotate around the axle relative to the mount. Preferably, the mount is adjustably secured to an upright structure so that the axle is horizontally oriented whereby said plurality of ball-targets rotates in a vertical plane whenever one of the same is struck. In one embodiment, three ball-targets are equilaterally spoked around the hub so that: initially, one of said ball-targets may be positioned at a location that is vertically superior to the other two ball-targets; the vertically suprerior ball target may be struck so that all of the ball targets rotate; after rotation, one of the three ball targets is gravitationally biased to the vertically superior position over the other two ball-targets. Suitably, the height of the vertically superior ball-target may be adjusted to the height of the batter via moving the position of the mount on the upright structure.

In one embodiment, the upright structure is a standard batting tee and the mount is a strap and clamp assembly wherein: first, the mount may be affixed to the tee via said strap and clamp assembly; second, the apparatus may be adjusted up or down along with the tee, to customize the apparatus to the height of the batter; third, the ball-targets may preferably be oriented so that one of the same is vertically superior to the other ball-target; fourth, the batter strikes the vertically superior ball-target with a bat so that the plurality of ball-targets rotates around the horizontal axle; and fourth, one-of the plurality of ball-targets is positioned via gravity to a location that is vertically superior to the other ball-targets. Essentially, manually reset of the apparatus and retrieval of the struck target is eliminated.

Other objectives and desires may become apparent to one of skill in the art after reading the below disclosure and viewing the associated figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a batting practice apparatus 20 affixed to a standard batting tee after being struck by a batter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus 20 as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the apparatus 20 shown in FIGS. 1 through 2;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the apparatus 20 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the apparatus 20 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the apparatus 20;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the apparatus 20 shown in FIGS. 6 through 7; and

FIG. 9 is partial cross section of a ball-target 24.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of the disclosed apparatus, and therefore, are not to be considered limiting of their scope, for the disclosed apparatus may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In general, disclosed are batting practice apparatus. More specifically, described are portable and customizable apparatus that enable solo batting practice with essentially uninterrupted batting repetitions. In one embodiment, the described apparatus comprises: a plurality of ball-targets that are equilaterally spoked to a hub that is rotatably connected to a mount an axle. Operably, the apparatus may be adjustably coupled to an upright so that one of the ball targets may be struck by a batter with a bat. The more specific details are set forth below in connection with the associated figures.

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a preferred embodiment of a portable batting practice apparatus 20 that has been attached to a batting tee 22 and struck by a batter. FIGS. 2 through 5 respectively show perspective, frontal perspective, top perspective, and side perspective views of the apparatus 20 of FIG. 1 mounted to the tee 22. Referring to the figures, the apparatus 20 is attached to and supported by any upright structure (e.g., pole or the like), represented in the figures as a batting tee 22. As shown, the apparatus is defined by: a plurality of ball-targets 24 that are planarly and equilaterally spoked to a hub 28 (e.g., the hub 28 may be a circular base with three equilaterally spaced arms to which the ball targets 24 are attached); an axle 30; a mount 23 for adjustably coupling the apparatus 20 to an upright structure (e.g., a tee 22); and, wherein the mount 23 and hub 28 are rotatably connected via the axle 30. represented by a restricted-flight ball.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the apparatus 20 may preferably be attached upright via the mount 23 so that the axle 30 is oriented horizontally and so that the ball targets 24 may rotate around the axle 30 relative to the mount 23 in a vertical plane. In one embodiment, the mount 23 is the strap and clamp assembly. When one of the ball ball targets 24 is struck by a batter with a bat, the targets 24, and correspondingly the hub 28, will rotate about the horizontal axle 30 in a vertical plane. Suitably, the rotation of the targets 24 will eventually cease due to friction. The friction may be variable and preadjusted so the balls will stop at pre-ordained stopping points or at desired intervals of time. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 20 is configured so that one of the targets 24 is always biased to a vertically superior position relative to the other ball targets 24. Suitably, this bias will allow the batter to immediately once again strike the apparatus 20 after rotation has ceased.

FIGS. 6 through 8 respectively depict perspective, side, and top views of the apparatus 20 detached from an upright placement. Referring to these figures, the apparatus 20 is defined by a plurality of ball targets 24 wherein each target is affixed to the hub 28 via a spoke 18. Said targets 24 are sutiably affixed to said spoke 18 by a plurality of methods, including but not limited to: screws, bolts, rivets, and/or glue/epoxy (FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment wherein the a ball target is connected to a spoke via a nut and bolt system 14, 15). Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that manner by which ball targets 24 may be attached to the end of a spoke 18. Still referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, the hub 28 may be affixed to the axle 30, by a plurality of methods, including without limitation: a nut and washer 19 and 17. Yet still referring to the same figures, the axle 30 is shown as being affixed to the mount 23 in the same manner (e.g., a nut and washer 16).

Referring exclusively to FIG. 6, the mount 23 may suitably be defined by a strap and clamp. In the preferred embodiment, the axle is coupled to a center point of the strap with a clamp at one end of the strap whereby the clamp may be used to secure the ends of the strap around an upright. In one less preferred embodiment, the strap is simply tied around an upright. Those of skill in the art will know ways by which the strap may be secured around an upright.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-section of a ball target 24. Referring now to FIG. 9, the ball target 24 is shown as a restricted-flight ball (commonly referred to as a whiffle ball). The ball target 24 may, however, be comprised of a plurality of materials, including without limitation: those materials identical to a standard baseball or softball, a rubber impact absorbing material, and/or anything else determined appropriate by one of skill in the relevant art. The ball target 24 shall preferably approximate the actual size of a standard baseball or softball. Other times, the ball target 24 may be smaller than a baseball or softball to improve batting accuracy. As set forth above, the ball targets 24 shall be attached to the spoke of the hub assembly 28 (not depicted in this figure, but depicted in each of the other figures), via a plurality of methods, including, but not limited to, a nut 15 and washer 14.

FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate modes and methods of operating the apparatus 20. Initially, a batter may secure the apparatus to an upright, such as a tee 22. Preferably, one of the ball targets 24 may be biased to a vertically superior position over the other ball targets 24. Second, the batter may suitably strike the most vertically superior target 24. The struck target 24, which is attached to the standard support structure 22, initially moves in the direction of the strike (e.g., in the direction of the arrows depicted in FIG. 1). The other targets 24 follow because of the spoked interconnection with the hub 28 so that all of the targets 24 rotate about the horizontal axle 30 of the apparatus 20.

After rotation has ceased, a random target 24 will once move to a vertically superior position via gravity so that the swing may be repeated. A batter may wait for the target 24 to come to rest before striking the target 24 once again or (as the batter's skill improves) the batter can strike the target 24 located at the upright and proper position, while it is still moving and thereby gaining practice in hitting a moving target. Grooves or stopping mechanisms may also be added to the apparatus to ensure that a ball will come to rest at a most upright position that will allow for striking. Thus the batter is able to obtain invaluable training without the aid of a pitcher, a pitching machine, or a ball retriever.

It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the sports participant uses the present invention by striking the target with an appropriate sports implement, namely, a baseball or softball bat. For softball batting practice, the softball participant uses a selected softball bat to strike the target. For baseball batting practice, the baseball participant uses a selected baseball bat to strike the target. A smaller implement may also be used, to further refine and train the skill being developed.

The descriptions and depictions contained in this offering, relating to the present invention, are presented for descriptive and illustrative purposes. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the form, fit or function of the invention in any way. Many modifications and/or variations are likely to be employed in furthering the goals of maximizing the training of the skills desired. The descriptions and depictions have been made in order to best explain the principles of the present invention, as well as its practical application. These embodiments are presented to enable users to best utilize the invention, with various modifications as may be needed, to most efficiently and effectively train the skills desired.

It should be noted that FIGS. 1 through 9 and the associated description are of illustrative importance only. In other words, the depiction and descriptions of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting of the subject matter in this application. Additional modifications may become apparent to one skilled in the art after reading this disclosure. 

I claim:
 1. A batting practice apparatus comprising: a plurality of ball-targets that are equilaterally spoked around a hub; a mount; an axle that rotably couples the hub and mount.
 2. A method of training an athlete in batting practice comprising the steps of: rotatably securing a plurality of ball-targets to a tee by a mount rotatably coupled via an axle to a hub with spokes separating the three ball targets; orienting the axle so that the axle is horizontal and one of the ball targets are position vertically superior to the other two ball targets; and striking the vertically superior ball target.
 3. A baseball or softball batting practice apparatus comprising: a mount operably configured to attach to a tee; said mount being fixedly connected to an axle; said axle connected to a rotable hub; said hub having spokes extending therefrom and being fixedly attached to a plurality of ball targets.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising ball targets that are whiffle balls.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mount is operably removable from said tee with a mechanism that securedly buckles to the tee.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said plurality of ball targets is a number of 3 ball targets.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rotable hub is configured to operate so that friction will stop a ball target at an upright position ready to be struck by a batter.
 8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rotable hub is configured so that a mechanical mechanism will stop a ball target at an upright position ready to be struck by a batter when the rotational momentum is overcome by a physical obstruction, whereby the ball is in an ideal position for striking by a batter.
 9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said ball-targets that equilaterally spoked around said hub. 